Southern Sust Farming, part 2

=============Electronic Edition================
SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE FARMING # 14
MARCH 1997
-part 2-
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Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
P.O. Box 324, Elkins, AR 72727
Phone (501) 292-3714; E-mail: ssfarm@juno.com
Keith Richards, Editor
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SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE FARMING is the quarterly
voice of the Southern SAWG, 50 member organizations
working for more sustainable agriculture in 13 Southern
states. Hard copy subscriptions via U. S. postal service:
$15 per year or $25 for two years
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CONTENTS, part 2:
* SUSTAINABLE AG EDUCATION FOR
YOUTH
* RESOURCES OF NOTE
* CLASSIFIED ADS
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INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE:
Sustainable Ag Education for Youth
by Renee A. I. Price
As many organizations have discovered, youth
involvement in sustainable agriculture can benefit us all.
Sustainable agricultural concepts and practices offer
effective tools for teaching students life skills, and can
excite young people about entering the field of agriculture
to carry on our work. Over the next few issues, SSF will
explore some of the youth education programs going on
within the Southern SAWG.
Fleming Creek Watershed Project
"Giving a hand to the environment" -- So read the
headline of a local newspaper praising the thirty-or-so
young people involved in the Fleming Creek Watershed
Project. Since 1994, middle and high school students from
Fleming County, KY have been working on an
environmental education endeavor by studying the water
quality in the Fleming Creek Watershed and educating area
residents on strategies for its improvement.
The students also are documenting the history of their
Appalachian community through interviews with older
residents, who reminisce of the days they used to fish in
Fleming Creek. Today, the creek is too polluted for fishing.
Student Jonathan Wood complained, "It's not really fair; we
should be able to fish and swim in the creek, too."
With a goal of restoring the creek to these uses, members
of the Community Farm Alliance (CFA) launched the
project to help the younger generation understand the
importance of sustainable agriculture and rural
development. Assisted by farmers, teachers, conservation
district staff and Cooperative Extension staff, the students
investigated the use of Best Management Practices (BMP)
for improving water quality. Then they began educating the
public and working with area farmers to implement BMP
solutions, such as buffer strips and containment ponds.
Additionally, the students receive training on college
level equipment that allows them to monitor water quality
by testing parts of the creek. Currently, the students have
six test sites. They go out once each month, with a school
bus equipped as a mobile testing unit, documenting
improvements to the creek.
CFA member Tribby Vice stated, "The Fleming Creek
Watershed Project has taken on a life of its own." These
young people from both farm and non-farm communities
have now established a forum for dialogue between
themselves--comparing their lifestyles and concerns while
comparing observations from the field.
The success of the Fleming Creek Watershed Project has
inspired youth organizing elsewhere in KY. At CFA's
annual meeting in January 1997, the Youth Caucus, with
representatives from around the state, gathered to share
different perspectives on the environment and agriculture,
organize, and develop a unified vision for tomorrow.
For further information, contact: Community Farm
Alliance, 311 Wilkinson Street, Frankfort KY 40601; 502-
223-3655.
Team Green!
The Team Green! Youth Nursery Project teaches
entrepreneurship and job skills to at-risk high school
students through the use of horticulture and related topics.
Youth in Austin, TX receive classroom supported hands-on
training followed by a two-week internship at local
businesses. They learn self-sufficiency, build self-worth
and explore potential career opportunities.
In April 1996, staff at the Sustainable Food Center
implemented the Team Green! pilot project with four
participants, ages 13 and 14, at El Jardin Alegre
community garden in East Austin. The spring pilot program
provided 42 hours of instruction. Students followed a
curriculum covering basic plant science and plant growing
techniques, business entrepreneurial skills, and nutrition
education. They received instruction through on-site
demonstrations. Guest presenters and field trips to local
businesses augmented topics that were difficult to teach
adequately on site.
Using the same format as the spring pilot, Team Green!
enlisted fourteen older students, ages 14 to 17, in a six
week summer program with 90 hours of instruction. These
enterprising young people succeeded in constructing a 20' x
30' greenhouse, and in planting a small market garden. In
so doing, they learned design and building techniques, and
gained experience in cost estimating, budgeting, project
management, as well as horticulture. During the final two
week internship period, participants then applied their
newly acquired knowledge at various local businesses.
Keith Jones, director of agriculture and rural
development at the Center, remarks: "This year's
experience with the Team Green! project has provided us
with an enormous development base and insight into the
need for this type of program. Horticulture is an effective
vehicle to teach various job skills and entrepreneurial
concepts, and we are now convinced more than ever that
low-income youth will respond to entrepreneurial training.
Student evaluations were positive, and comments from the
businesses that accepted the summer interns were
uniformly supportive of the program."
Future plans are to involve older teenagers, ages 16 to 18,
in the project, and to expand the program to ten-week
summer sessions. Testifying as to the merits of Team
Green!, one student is now working at the locally-owned
hardware store where he completed his internship.
For further information, contact: Sustainable Food
Center, 434 Bastrop Hwy, Austin TX 78741; 512-385-
0080.
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RESOURCES OF NOTE
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association
(APPPA), a new organization for people interested in
pastured poultry production launched jointly by Joel Salatin
of Swoope, VA; Diane Kaufmann of Chippewa Falls, WI;
and Heifer Project International (HPI) through funding
from a Southern SARE/ACE program grant. APPPA will
publish a quarterly newsletter to promote the exchange of
ideas and information among producers, including reviews
of federal and state laws regarding on-farm processing of
poultry; sources for chickens, feed and rations, production
and processing equipment (both used and new); marketing
ideas; and referrals. APPPA will also develop a database of
farmers actively producing pastured poultry. To join, send
$20.00 to APPPA, c/o Diane Kaufmann, 5207-70th St.,
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729; 715-723-2293; e-mail:
dkaufman@discover-net.net
Growing Together: Community Gardening and Food
Security, 1996, by the Sustainable Food Center. Covers all
the details of establishing a community garden, for local
organizations, governments and individuals. 35 pp. Free.
SFC, Attn: "Garden Guide," 434 Bastrop Hwy., Austin,
Texas 78741; 800-882-5592. Other SFC publications
include a complete "how-to" manual for starting a farmers'
market and Growing Smart, a compilation of Texas
sustainable agriculture success stories.
Sustainable Practices for Vegetable Production in the
South, 1996, by Mary Peet. Covers both the concepts of
sustainable agriculture and specific technical information
for the Southern U.S. 174 pp. $28.95 + $4.50 shipping &
handling. Order from Focus c/o PBS, PO Box 390, Jaffrey,
NH 03452; 800-848-7236; e-mail: pullins@seacoast.com.
Or view the entire contents at the web site:
http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/cals/sustainable/peet/
Maximizing Shareholder Retention in Southern CSAs,
1997, by Deborah Kane. This report on research from the
University of Georgia offers insights on Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA) shareholder satisfaction, and
details how expectations changed from pre- to post-season.
Free. Deborah Kane, Institute of Ecology, University of
Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2202; e-mail:
dkane@uga.cc.uga.edu
Cooperation Works! How people are using cooperative
action to rebuild communities and revitalize the economy,
1996, by E.G. Nadeau and David J. Thompson. A practical,
easy-to-read book that shows how people are working
together to own and operate successful business
enterprises. Contains more than 50 case studies of new
types of cooperatives. 205 pp. $16.95 plus $2.00 shipping.
Lone Oak Press, 304-11th Ave SE, Rochester, MN 55904;
507-280-6557; e-mail: rhowe@polaristel.net
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CLASSIFIEDS
Reach thousands of people working for more sustainable
agriculture. Put a classified ad in the next issue of Southern
Sustainable Farming. Ad rates: 30 cents per word for
subscribers, 45 cents per word for non-subscribers ($5.00
minimum). Phone 205-333-8504 for information.
Supplies: Frost fabric, compost covers, containers,
greenhouse structures and poly film, and row covers. G&M
Agricultural Supply Company, 5301 N. 82nd Street,
Scottsdale, AZ 85250. 1-800-901-0096.
Drip Irrigation-Pond Liners. Low farm prices, huge
selection, fast service, design assistance. Free catalog
includes: T-Tape, tubing, emitters, sprayers, filters,
regulators, PVC, fertilizer injectors. Call Dripworks 1-800-
616-8321.
Help Wanted: Mixed Organic Farm in transition seeks
experienced people; one to be completely responsible for
60 acres of existing apples and 30 acres of new apples,
cherries and pears, other to manage mixed herd of cattle,
sheep and goats, on 100 acres. Moving allowances
available and remuneration commensurate with experience,
excellent housing and benefits provided. Send resume to
Sunnyside Farm, PO Box 478, Washington, VA 22747; e-
mail Organic777@aol.com; or call 540-675-2627 for more
info.
Manager Needed (Asheville, NC): Organic farmers
cooperative seeks fit, motivated individual to help develop
state-wide sales and distribution business ('96 sales:
$224,000.00). Experience must illustrate dedication to
sustainable agriculture and green business. Necessary
skills: sales and promotion, logistics and details,
communication, finance, computer. Letter, resume by
March 21 to: Carolina Organic Growers, PO Box 7174,
Asheville, NC 28802.